Rebecca Arnold, Artist Blog: Gregory Crewdson!

It's only appropriate that I write my Artist Blog on Gregory Crewdson, since I talked about him in my last blog, which was also my first blog. He is a good inspiration.

The work of Gregory Crewdson that motivates me is his film set series (Hover, Twilight, Beneath the Roses). Made like scenes from a movie, his sets look almost completely real. Using different elements, like lighting and effects, he creates scenes that are unexpected and curious. His combination of normal and paranormal generates a tension between the suburban landscape and the subject matter.

The models in his photographs usually stare indifferently, a juxtaposition to the fictitious settings in which they are suspended. The only clues of emotion in the photograph above is the body language slump portrayed by the young man.

In his earlier series, Gregory Crewdson used black and white bird-eye views of nonrealistic situations to accentuate the voyeuristic aspects of his work. Continuing with this work, he introduced color and a larger scale. This has been said as being reminiscent of Steven Spielberg's films. His cinematically inclined photographs have a lot of help though, as he has dozens of assistants and set technicians who help build and put together the Hollywood type stage set.

He, apparently, wants to direct a feature film in the future. Who would have guessed.

Gregory Crewdson's photographs are both documentary yet speculative and dream-like. I have done a lot of artwork attempting to grasp this concept. I find that my captivated mind loves the scenery - the perfection of the set when yet, there's something off - something different and strange. Not alarmingly so, but considerably peculiar. This is what I crave in my every day tedious life.

The beauty of films excites me, I am even day dreaming after the film, reflecting on what I took in. I want that same feeling when I create images - like when I look at Gregory Crewdson's images.

I can't wait to make a new attempt at this concept, as I build on it year from year. It's becoming clearer to me what I'm interested in, getting to the root of my ideas. It will be exciting to start a new (and improved) false reality series...the details are still in the works.

http://www.luhringaugustine.com/index.php?mode=artists&object_id=66

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1248/is_10_93/ai_n15860935/

http://metroartwork.com/gregory-crewdson-biography-artwork-m-61.html